Electric switch



Aug. 11, 1936. T. A. BOTH 2,050,913

' ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 10, 1954 2 sheets-sheet 1 INSULATION G INSULATIO I Si BNSULATION 10 INSUIJETIUN" 136 INSULATION 2 i E I 36 IO INVENTOR TONJES A. BOTH BY HIS ATTORNEYS INSULATION Aug. 11, 1936. T 2,050,918

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed April 10, 1954 2 Sheets-Shet 2 I IIVSl/l-A 770!! INVENTOR TONJES A- BOTH BY HIS ATTORNEYS I Patented Aug. 11, 1936 ELECTRIC SWITCH Tonjes A. Both, Stratford, Conn., assignor to The Bryant Electric Company, Bridgeport, Comm, a corporation of Connecticut Application April 10, 1934, Serial No. 719,937

13 Claims.

This invention relates to lever operated snap switches. More particularly it relates to a small size lever operated snap switch which is adapted to be secured upon a supporting strap and mounted in an electric outlet box. An example of the type of switch mounting suitable for this invention is disclosed in the Guett Patent 1,909,270.

It is an object of my invention to provide an improved construction of lever operated snap switch and in which the parts of the switch may be enclosed within a small casing and may easily and quickly be assembled.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switch of the above type which may be inexpensively manufuactured and will prove entirely satisfactory under conditions of continued use.

Another object is to provide a small double pole switch with are suppressing means.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as it is described in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a side elevation view of a switch embodying the principles of my invention and with the side of the casing partly broken away.

Figure 2 is an end elevation view of the switch shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an exploded view of the parts of my new switch mechanism.

Figure 4 is a plan view of the bottom half of the switch casing when removed from the remainder of the switch.

Figure 5 is a bottom view of the top half of the switch casing with the switch mechanism contained therein.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal vertical section through my new switch, the section being taken along line 66 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a longitudinal vertical section through my new switch, the section being taken along line l-l of Figure 5.

Figure 8 is an exploded View of the movable contact assembly with parts in perspective.

Figure 9 is a side elevation view, partly in section, of the movable contact assembly.

Figures 10 and 11 are perspective views of stationary contacts.

Referring to the drawings, the switch casing ID has fiat sides Illa and lb and a fiat bottom Hi0 and flat end faces Hid, lee, each end face being provided with an upper recess N31 for a wire terminal 52 and a lower recess I09 for a lower wire terminal M. The casing is preferably made of molded insulating material such as bakeliteor any other suitable phenolic condensation product. The top of the insulating casing has formed upon it a reduced neck in which is adapted to fit in an aperture in a supporting strap not shown. A manual operating lever 16 it will be noted that the wiring terminals 20 and 10 22 comprising short bent strips of sheet metal with binding screws 24 and 26 threaded therein are seated in recesses 28 and 30 formed in the bottom half of the casing, these recesses being So formed as to accommodate the irregular configurations of the wiring terminals and their associated binding screws and switch contacts. At the ends of the wiring terminals there are secured thereon switch contacts 32 and 3 these contacts being made of flexible sheet metal and lying in a plane parallel to the side walls of the casing so as to be engaged by a movable switch contact to be hereinafter described. The central portion of the lower part of the switch base is hollowed out as at 36 to provide room for movement of a switching member hereinafter described.

Referring now particularly to Figures 3 and 5 it will be noted that the switch mechanism comprises separate frame members ill and 59 in which is pivotally mounted a U-shaped switching member which is actuated by the manual operating member to which is also pivotally mounted in the frame members 40 and 50. A-compression spring H3 engages with the transverse portion of the switching member 6! and with a metallic tongue which is molded into the manual operating member I6 and moves as a unit therewith. This spring causes the switching member 66 to move with a snap when the manual operating member has moved through a dead-center position in a manner common to switches of this type. The frame member 40 may be conveniently stamped from sheet metal into the form shown in Figure 3, with a bearing aperture 42 near the top thereof for the reception of a laterally extending bearing boss 8i formed on the tongue 86. The frame member 40 also has formed therein beneath the bearing aperture 42 an arcuate opening 44 in which moves a laterally extending lug 83 on the tongue 80 upon movement of the manual operating member Hi. The sides of the lug 33 engage with the ends: of the arcuate opening 44 to limit the movement of the manual operating member. In the central part of the frame member M is a bearing aperture 46 for the reception of a. bearing lug 62 which extends laterally from one of the side arms of the U-shaped switching member 6U. In the bottom part of the frame member 40 is a large arcuate aperture 48 in which moves a laterally extending stop lug 64 formed on the same side arm of the switching member 00 upon which the bearing lug 02 is. The lug 64 abuttting against the ends of the arcuate aperture 48 limits the movement of the switching member 60.

The frame member 40 is held in position with the switch casing by sheet insulation inserts 90 formed as shown in Figure 3. Each insert has a laterally extending projection 92 which is adapted to fit into a recess M in the side of the frame member 40. A finger 43 is bent up from the frame member 40 on each side out of the plane of the frame member 40 so as to overlie the projection 92. Thus when the frame member 40 is placed in the switch casing and lies against one side thereof, the insulating inserts 90 will lie in the plane of the frame member 40 with the projections 92 within the recess 4| and the fingers 43 will hold the inserts 00 against movement out of that plane. In the side of each insert 90 opposite to the projections 92 are formed recesses 94 and 06 for the reception of extensions I2a. and l2b which are formed upon'the wire terminals I2 at one end of the switch casing and a corresponding wire terminal I3 at the other end of the casing, this wiring terminal I3 having extensions I3a and I3b corresponding to the extensions I2a and l2b.

The insulating frame member 50 is punched from sheet insulation with a bearing aperture 52 at the top to receive a bearing boss upon the tongue of the manual operating member, this boss being in alignment with the boss 35 hereinbefore described. The top edge of the frame member 50 is adapted to fit within the casing in slots I0s in the top of the switch cavity of the casing I0. The bottom edge of the frame 50 is adapted to fit within a recess in the lower half I01 of the switch casing alongside of the stationary contacts 32 and 34 and in that way the frame member is held in position.

In assembling the parts in the upper part I0u of the casing, it is preferable to employ the following procedure. Firstly, the wire terminals I2 and V I3 are placed in position in the casing. Secondly, the unit, consisting of the frame member 50 and the parts fixedly assembled thereon as hereinafter described, is placed in position by sliding it into the casing part Iilu from the back. At the same time, the frame member 40 will be engaged with the switching member 60 and tongue 80 and inserted in the casing part I0u with frame member 50. Thirdly, the insulation inserts 00 are placed in position one at a time. This is 'done by placing the laterally extending projections 92 in the recesses 4i under the fingers 43 of the frame member 40 and rotating the inserts about the edges of the said projections toward the walls of the casing until the inserts lie flat against the wall at which time the extensions I 2a, l2b and I3a, I3b will have entered the recesses 04, 96 of the inserts, thus interlocking the terminals, inserts and frame member 40.

It will be recalled that the switching member 60 is pivotally mounted in the frame member 40 by a lug 62 on one arm of the switching mem ber. The other arm of the switching member is pivotally mounted in the frame member 50 by a stud 63 extending through the frame member.

The circular aperture 54 in the frame member 50 through which the stud 63 passes is of considerably greater size than the stud and receives a circular bearing disc 55 for rotation therein, the disc being of insulating material and of slightly greater thickness as the plate 50 and having a central rectangular opening 55a which snugly receives the stud 63, whereby the disc 55 and stud 63 rotate in unison within the aperture 54.

Mounted upon the stud 63 on opposite sides of the frame member 50 are identical movable contact members I00, I02 having arms I00a, I02a obliquely spaced about 150 degrees apart. Each contact is stamped from sheet metal and has a large central aperture I000, I020 which snugly receives an insulating washer I01, by which the contact is insulated from the stud 63 which is snugly received in an opening I0la whereby the washers I01 and contacts I00, I02 move in unison with stud 63. Mounted on the stud 63 on opposite sides of each contact member from the frame member 50 are oval insulating plates I04 and I06. The plate I04 serves to insulate the contact I00 from a flat metal member which has a pair of legs I00 turned from it at right angles, away from the frame member 50 and the plate I 06 serves to insulate a metallic washer I05 from the contact I02. The legs I09 on the plate I08 are positioned to be engaged by a shoulder on the tongue 80 of the manual operating member.

By reason of the engagement of this shoulder with these legs, the switching member and movable contacts are positively moved after the manual operating member has been moved a predetermined distance toward open or closed position. Thus if the spring 10 for any reason does not initiate the movement of the switching member 60, the shoulder 85 will start such movement, which will be completed with a snap by the spring I0.

When the parts just described are mounted on the stud 03 and assembled with the frame 50 they are held there by peening over the end of the stud 03.

As the switching member 60 is rotated it carries with it all the parts shown in Figures 8 and 9 except the frame 50. This rotation causes the movable contacts I00 and I02 to engage and disengage stationary contacts 32, 34 hereinbefore described and stationary contacts H2, H3 which are mounted upon the wire terminals I2 and I3, respectively, these terminals being stamped from sheet metal of thickness customary for wire terminals. The stationary contacts H2, H3 extend down from the wire terminals I2, I3 along the inside face of the frame member 50 so as to be bridged by the movable contact I00. The wire terminals 32, 34 extend up from the bottom of' the casing along the outside of the frame member and are bridged by the movable contact I02.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that when the handle I5 is moved from left to right in Figure 1, the movable contacts I02 will separate from stationary contacts 32 and 34 with a snap and, correspondingly, movable contact I00 will separate from stationary contacts H2, H3. During this separation any arcs that are created will be drawn across the face of the insulating member 50 and quenched. The use of this insulating member also makes it possible to place the stationary contacts of opposite polarity very close together while at the same time effectively insulating them.

Many modifications within the scope of my invention will occur to those skilled in the art, therefore I do not limit myself to the specific embodiment shown.

I claim:-

1. A snap switch comprising an insulating casing, an operating handle projecting from said casing, a pair of frame members one of which is of sheet insulation, a switching member pivotally supported by said frame members, a pair of mutually insulated movable contacts moving adjacent the faces of said insulating frame member on opposite sides thereof, means between said handle and said switching member to move said movable contact with a snap, and stationary contacts adapted to be engaged and disengaged by said movable contact.

2. A snap switch comprising an insulating casing having parallel side walls, an operating handle projecting from said casing, a plurality of fixed and movable contacts in said casing, a flat sheet of insulation insulating one movable contact from another and spaced from said side walls, snap mechanism causing said contacts to move simultaneously with a snap across opposite faces of said sheet insulation with a single uninterrupted motion.

3. A snap switch comprising an insulating casing, an operating handle projecting from said casing, pairs of spaced stationary contacts at opposite ends of said casing, a unitary device including an insulating plate insulating the contacts of each pair from one another, movable contacts moving across opposite faces of said plate and adapted to engage with said pairs and insertable into said casing with said plate as a unit, and mechanism for moving said movable contacts with a snap.

4. A snap switch comprising an insulating casing, an operating handle projecting from said casing, a plurality of fixed and movable contacts in said casing, a unitary device including a sheet of insulation insulating one movable contact from another and insertable into said casing with said movable contacts as a unit, snap mechanism causing said contacts to move simultaneously with a snap across opposite faces of said sheet insulation, said movable contacts being pivotally supported on said sheet insulation.

5. A snap switch comprising an insulating casing having parallel side walls, wire terminals at opposite ends of said casing, a frame member intermediate said ends and between said side walls, insulating means within the casing interlocking With said terminals and said frame to hold said frame in said casing, fixed and movable contacts, and mechanism for separating said contacts with a snap motio said mechanism being pivotally mounted in said frame.

6. A snap switch comprising a two part insulating casing, fixed switch contacts positioned in recesses in one of said parts, a movable switch member and means positioned in the other part of said casing to actuate said movable switch member with a snap, frame members in said other casing part for pivotally supporting said movable switch contact and said snapping means, one of said frame members being of sheet insulation, said movable contact moving across one face of said sheet insulation during contact separating movement.

7. A snap switch comprising a two part insulating casing, fixed switch contacts positioned in recesses in one of said parts, movable switch members and means positioned in the other part of said casing to actuate said movable switch members with a snap, frame members in said other casing part for pivotally supporting said movable switch contacts and said snapping means, one of said frame members being of sheet insulation, fixed contacts at opposite ends of said other casing part, said last named fixed contacts being on the opposite side of said sheet insulation from said first named fixed contacts.

8. A snap switch comprising an insulating casing, wire terminals at opposite ends of said casing having terminal screws accessible through apertures in said casing, independent frame members in said casing, means within said casing interlocking with said terminals and one frame member to hold the interlocked parts in the casing, fixed and movable switch contacts, and actuating mechanism supported by said frame members for separating the fixed and movable contacts with a snap.

9. A snap switch comprising an insulating casing, wire terminals at opposite ends of said casing having terminal screws accessible through apertures in said casing, independent frame members in said casing, means within said casing interlocking with said terminals and one frame member to hold the interlocked parts in the casing, fixed and movable switch contacts, and actuating mechanism supported by said frame members for separating the fixed and movable contacts with a snap, one of said frame members being of sheet insulation and said movable contacts moving adjacent its face during contact separation.

10. A snap switch comprising an insulating casing, pairs of mutually insulated fixed contacts at each end of said casing, a unitary device including a sheet insulation member, a pair of movable switch contacts pivotally mounted on said member and insulated from each other by said member and insertable into said casing with said member as a unit, and actuating means causing said movable contacts to engage and disengage said fixed contacts with a snap.

11. A snap switch comprising a casing, operating means, stationary contacts at opposite ends of said casing, a unitary device including an insulating plate separating the contacts from one another, movable contacts insertable into said casing with said plate as a unit, means for moving said contacts, said movable contacts being pivotally supported on and movable across said plate to engage the stationary contacts.

12. A snap switch comprising a casing, operating means, sets of fixed and movable contacts in said casing, a unitary device including an insulating frame of said fixed and movable contacts from another and insertable in said casing with said movable contacts as a unit, a switching member pivotally supported on said member and adapted to connect and disconnect the fixed and movable contacts.

13. A unit for insertion into the casing of a lever operated snap switch, comprising a plate of sheet insulation, a movable contact pivotally supported in said plate, the contacting surfaces of said contact moving across said plate during circuit opening movement, and means permanently attaching said plate and contact together, said means having a portion engageable with snapping mechanism.

TONJES A. BOTH.

member separating said one set 

